Chapter 7: Non-communicable Diseases

Vocabulary flashcards for Chapter 7: Non-communicable diseases, covering key terms, coronary heart disease treatments, risk factors, and cancer-related terms.

Artificial Heart

A mechanical device used to replace a biological heart, either temporarily while waiting for a transplant or permanently in cases where a transplant is not an option.

Benign

Non-cancerous; describes a tumor that does not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body.

Carcinogen

A substance or agent capable of causing cancer.

Cholesterol

A type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. High levels can lead to the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries (atherosclerosis), increasing the risk of heart disease.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

A condition in which the coronary arteries become narrowed by the build-up of fatty material, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.

Health

The state of physical and mental well-being, affected by factors such as disease, diet, stress, exercise, and life situations.

Malignant

Cancerous; describes a tumor that invades surrounding tissues and can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).

Risk Factor

Any aspect of lifestyle or substance in the body that increases the risk of developing a disease.

Statin

A drug that reduces blood cholesterol levels, slowing down the deposit of fatty material in the arteries.

Stent

A small mesh tube inserted into a blocked coronary artery to keep it open, allowing more blood to flow to the heart.

Transplant

The replacement of a diseased or damaged organ (e.g., heart) with a healthy one from a donor.

Tumour

A mass of tissue formed by abnormal growth of cells.

Coronary Artery

Blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.

Type 2 Diabetes

A metabolic disorder where the body does not respond properly to insulin, leading to high blood glucose levels.

Liver Cirrhosis

Scarring of the liver caused by long-term alcohol use, impairing its ability to remove toxins.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.